Poole

Part of speech: noun, proper noun

Definitions

1. A proper noun typically referring to a coastal town in southern England known for its large natural harbor and maritime activities
2. A surname borne by various individuals and historically associated with locations or families, often linked to English heritage
3. A geographical name identifying a specific place notable for its port, beaches, and as a gateway to the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, England

Etymology: Poole is a port town on the south coast of Dorset, and its name is the plainest sort of place-name: it comes from the ordinary English word "pool", a body of still water. The town sits on the shores of Poole Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in Europe, where tidal creeks and shallow water spread out behind a narrow sandy entrance. The name therefore describes the landscape a settler would have seen, a sheltered expanse of water, rather than any person or event. Because the name is so transparent, it is easy to assume the town was named for a single pond or pool. The harbour itself is the pool in question, and the settlement took its name from that broad, enclosed water rather than from any small puddle or mere. The same root appears in many English place-names where a settlement grew beside a body of water, so Poole belongs to a large family of towns named for the features around them.